Happy Friday, y’all! I’m so excited that Five on Friday is back and I can start linking up and discovering more awesome blogs again. 

This weekend is the annual VT vs. UNC football game. It’s at Chapel Hill this year, so my parents are coming down for the game. My cousin Alexis, who’s also a UNC alum, is joining us. I’m the lone Hokie in the family, but that’s more fun for me anyway. We’ve done this game as a family for the last several years and it’s always a ton of fun.One of my favorite parts about football season is tailgating. We’ll have a little tailgate before the game this weekend with some of my favorite tailgate snacks. Here are my family’s favorite tailgate essentials!

Last year’s VT vs. UNC game tailgate, at VT.

1. Sandwiches – For us, this means Jimmy Johns. While we love snacking for the first hour or so, we always need something a little more substantial to keep us full throughout the game. Jimmy Johns never fails us. I will never turn down a #12 Beach Club, sans tomato and cucumber. What’s your favorite Jimmy Johns sandwiches.

2. Fruit & Cheese – We love fruit and we love cheese, and together, they’re a perfect match. Sometimes we have sliced or cubed cheese with strawberries, apples, and pineapple,  but we also love Laughing Cow cheese spread on apples. It’s a perfect, light and healthy snack, especially for early tailgates.
3. Trail mix – It’s so simple but so good, easy, and filling. My mom’s mix includes peanuts, almonds, craisins, M&Ms, and sometimes other dried fruit like bananas or apples. Sweet and salty is always a great combination for snack foods.

4. Brownies and/or sweet bread – What’s a tailgate without something sweet? Brownies and cookies are easy to make and transport, but I also love banana bread and pumpkin bread (it is fall, after all). I found an awesome recipe for pumpkin bread on Pinterest last year, and I can’t wait to make it again.
5. Drinks – We usually do some kind of coke and sweet tea. My dad loves Sun Drop, I’m a Cheerwine fan, and Mom loves her Coke Zero (as do I). We’re not beer drinkers at tailgates, but sometimes it’s nice to enjoy a light bourbon and ginger before a game. Or for cooler game days, hot cider or hot chocolate is nice, too.

What are your favorite tailgate essentials?